Hoshimine Gakuen.
A prestigious private school perched gracefully atop a quiet hill on the outskirts of the city. Surrounded by old cherry blossom trees that shed their petals every spring morning, and stone-paved walkways that looked as if they were taken straight from a classic painting.
The architecture blended modern minimalism with a touch of traditional Japanese design. Large glass windows lined the corridors, the high-ceilinged halls were always bathed in sunlight, and the inner garden—framed by wooden hallways—was a favorite spot for students seeking a moment of calm.
At a glance, it looked like a dream school.
And in truth, that's exactly what it was known as.
But to us, Hoshimine wasn't just a school.
It was a stage.
Where the children of elites gathered, where geniuses with bright futures walked, and where those who knew how to shine… truly shone.
And among all that brilliance, one name was often whispered—
Minase Mia.
Beautiful, smart, popular.
The nickname "Primadonna" had stuck with me—not something I asked for, nor something I particularly wanted.
But most of all, I didn't believe in love.
To me, love was… troublesome.
Too loud. Too messy.
So I chose to keep my distance.
---
"Morning, Mia. Right on time again. Such a model student, huh?"
The voice beside me was light and teasing. Iris—my friend since day one at Hoshimine—walked beside me, her long hair swaying, smile effortless yet sharp underneath.
"Morning, Iris," I replied. "Being on time is standard, not an achievement."
"See?" she said with a wink. "Even your daily comments sound wise."
I let out a small sigh.
"And as usual, every eye's on you the moment you step in."
"I'm walking next to you, Iris. They're probably staring at you too."
"Maybe. But talking about you? Definitely."
I didn't reply. Sometimes, I forgot why all this felt normal—maybe because I'd gotten used to the spotlight.
We reached the front gates where our two other friends were already waiting.
"Good morning, Karen, Yui," I said, waving.
"Morning, Mia, Iris~!" chirped Karen, her twin ponytails bouncing.
Yui smiled softly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Did you guys see the feed last night?" Karen asked excitedly. "Arisa Tanaka posted in that new lavender Prunelle dress—it sold out in an hour!"
"The puff-sleeved one, right?" said Yui. "I saw it this morning… and instantly regretted not saving up last week."
"Prunelle's evil," Iris sighed. "They make us fall in love before we realize we can't afford it."
"Fashion is suffering," Karen said dramatically.
"I need a jacket that blocks shopping notifications," I replied flatly.
The three of them burst into soft laughter.
"But seriously, Mia," Iris said. "That dress would look amazing on you. Elegant, mysterious—total primadonna vibes."
I shrugged. "What's the point of expensive clothes if you're just walking down school halls?"
"Oof… cold as ever!"
I just offered a faint smile.
This was our typical morning.
Four girls often called the *"Primadonnas of Hoshimine"—*but really, we were just normal teens. Laughing, gossiping, pretending not to care that the world was watching.
We were just about to enter the school building when a cheerful voice called out.
"Mia."
I turned. A boy approached with a casual gait, holding a piece of paper.
"Math homework. Returning it. Thanks for saving my quiz score."
Harema Takeru.
My childhood friend, next-door neighbor, and the one person who could ask for my help without any formalities.
His hair was as messy as ever, his tie loose, and of course—he hadn't even buttoned his top collar.
I took the paper without a word.
"Don't worry, I only looked at your method. Didn't copy it word for word."
"If all you saw was the final answer, that's not called studying," I replied.
"Yeah, yeah… but the grade matters too."
"I helped you so you'd learn, not slack off."
"And that's one of the cool things about you. So strict."
I raised an eyebrow and stared at him blankly.
Iris leaned toward Karen and whispered, "Math homework? That hard one from last week, right?"
"Yup. And he got the answers from Mia? What kind of relationship is this?" Karen said playfully.
Yui just giggled. "Childhood friends, huh."
"Takeru," I called, slipping the paper into my bag. "If you get a zero, I'm not taking the blame."
"Relax. I wrote it in different handwriting this time. I learn from experience."
"From copying?"
"From life," he said proudly.
I rolled my eyes and walked in.
As usual, my peaceful morning became just a little louder thanks to Harema Takeru.
---
We walked down the main corridor of Hoshimine Gakuen.
Footsteps echoed rhythmically, blending with the soft ringing of the first bell. Morning sunlight streamed in through the long windows on the right, casting a golden hue on the polished floor.
Class 2-B. Our homeroom.
"Hey Mia, we've got P.E. tomorrow, right?" Yui asked as she opened the door. "Still running laps first period?"
"I think so. Unless it rains, then it's theory class."
"Please, please rain," Karen said, dramatically looking at the ceiling. "I didn't wash my sneakers!"
"Only you would use that excuse," Iris muttered.
I quietly took my seat by the window—my favorite spot since the start of the semester. From here, I could see the sakura tree swaying gently in the breeze outside.
The classroom grew lively. Students chatting, some laughing, others freaking out about forgotten homework.
Takeru entered not long after us, heading to his seat a few rows over—right in the messier, noisier guy corner.
"Morning, Takeru!"
"Hey, you came with Mia today?"
"Getting closer, huh~?"
"Oi, oi, don't start writing fanfics in the morning," he groaned.
I ignored it. I was used to it.
Little rumors like that were just background noise.
---
Time passed, and class began.
Our Japanese teacher opened the lesson with a light discussion about personal essays.
"Think of one word that describes who you are right now," she said. "Starting today, you'll be working on a reflective essay due next week."
Hands shot up.
"Ambitious."
"Tired."
"Curious."
I just stared blankly at my notebook.
One word that described me?
If I were being honest…
Empty.
I couldn't remember the last time I truly wanted something. Everything moved like clockwork: I studied, got good grades, was admired by those around me.
But… for what?
"Minase-san?"
I blinked. "Sorry, could you repeat that?"
"Would you like to share your word?"
I paused for a moment.
"…Responsibility."
The teacher smiled. "A deep answer. Alright, moving on."
I looked down, writing the word in my notebook.
But even I knew…
That wasn't the real answer.
It was just a mask.
---
The final bell rang.
As the evening sky turned amber, I remained seated, slowly packing my books. Iris and the others had left earlier for student council meetings.
Takeru passed by the classroom door and paused.
"Not heading home?"
"I've got some tasks to finish."
"Don't overwork yourself. You'll forget how to have fun."
I gave a faint smile. "Have you ever seen me having fun?"
He chuckled. "Nope. But I bet it'll be interesting when I do."
He waved and walked off.
And I just sat there, watching the orange sky through the window.